Scouse blog that’s a cross between Motherland, Bridget Jones and Sex and the City

A single mum-of-two has created a brand new Liverpool blog that’s a cross between Bridget Jones’ Diary, Motherland, and Sex and the City.

But Jenny Snell adds: “It’s definitely without the glamour!”

Jenny, 46, from Woolton, started the blog – Just Another Day Jen – just over a month ago.

And she says: “The response has been really encouraging, and it’s already received around 30,000 views.

“I never intended it to be every day but the comments from people have been so lovely, and I really enjoy writing it.

“I think it either makes people feel that their life’s not that bad,” she grins, “or it reminds them that others are facing life’s challenges too.

“People have messaged to say thank you, that I’ve made them smile and that I’ve made them feel better, and I can’t believe that people have contacted me to say stuff like that, but it’s really nice!”

With a tagline of ‘chaos, kids, hormones & heartbreak — the real, ridiculous, relatable life of a 40-something mum’ Jenny’s blog is a collection of everyday occurrences and events that sum up her life, from talking about the menopause to dealing with the kids’ GCSEs, juggling a job and a family, going online dating, and more.

In one funny post she reveals how she finished trimming the lawn with the kitchen scissors after her lawnmower packed in halfway through, and she’s not shy of revealing her innermost thoughts about finding love again after divorce or allowing herself to ever be vulnerable ever again.

“I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve,” admits Jenny.

Jenny, who’s head of business development and impact for city charity Local Solutions, was inspired to develop the blog after writing a short play that was chosen to be produced for ‘A Taste of Funny’, a comedy festival organised by Woolton Drama Group.

Love and Lunchboxes is a fast-paced 10-minute play about life in the Snell household, and it prompted more comedic scribblings about the humorous and heartfelt happenings which Jenny now says ‘help me to process my day’.

She explains: “I’m a member of Woolton Drama Group and several weeks ago they invited some professional playwrights in and offered a two-hour workshop for writing comedy plays for the festival that’s happening in June.

“I sat there thinking I’d love to do this but I’ll never have the time, especially as some people turned up with full drafts of scripts. And I’ve often thought people would think my life is bonkers!

“But I had a doctor’s appointment – for a menopause-related thing – and because I was half an hour early, I sat in the car waiting and thought I’d make notes about what I’d include … and when I went home, I wrote the play in five hours!”

The play was one of only six chosen to be performed at A Taste of Funny in St Hilda’s Church Hall in Hunts Cross on June 13. And it prompted Jenny, an English and drama graduate to carry on writing.

“Like the play, the blog represents the chaos of juggling a job, looking after two boys – one of whom’s a teenager – online dating, the menopause, and mum guilt,” says Jenny, whose sons are Joe, 12, and Ted, 15.

“Like I say, I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m an over sharer, and that overspilled into the blog.

“I have described it as Motherland meets Bridget Jones meets Sex and the City – with none of the glamour – and it is relatable because people realise they’re not the only ones juggling so many things, and they’re not the only ones trying to stay sane, and that’s the main thing that comes across.

“I’m Liverpool born and bred, and it’s got an authentic Liverpool voice, and people have said they now start their day with my blog and it makes them feel better. About 83% of people who read it are women around 45-54, and about 10% over 55 (although I think that’s probably my mum’s friends).

“But it’s just spiralled.”

Jenny is now exploring the possibility of compiling the blogs into a book to have published; she has been contacted by an actor friend about writing humorous monologues, and there may even be interest from ITV daytime about turning her tales into a TV script.

“I think it’s been successful because it’s the stories other people are living day after day,” says Jenny. “I would love to develop it. It’s a bit scary and it’s a leap of faith in my life, but JK Rowling didn’t make it until she was 46 like I am now, so who knows?

“I’m lucky because I love my job, but I would also love to do more creative work like this.

“If nothing more comes from it, I still enjoy writing the blog and I can say it’s been an experience and I’ve enjoyed the ride. I think the boys are secretly proud of me and it’s made each of them think ‘do you know what, my mum’s alright’! And that’s nice too.”